If anything could sum up the struggles of this season's Friends Life t20 to achieve lift-off, it was surely Kevin Pietersen's first-ball duck against Hampshire.

Following his abrupt retirement from limited-overs internationals - and a three-week break from cricket in all its forms - England's most marketable player and one of the world's most destructive batsmen in the format strode out to open the batting in his third Twenty20 appearance in two years with Surrey, only to depart immediately, caught at cover off the left-arm spin of Liam Dawson.

To compound the sense of anti-climax, Surrey were beaten on Duckworth-Lewis, without taking a wicket, in a match when less than 16 overs were possible. On a wet Monday night more suited to umbrellas than cheerleaders, the IPL, cricket's premier short-form bonanza, cannot have seemed further away.

This has been a summer of discontents for the domestic game, from the failure of the Morgan Review to the job lot of poor weather that has submerged much of the season so far. Finances, as ever, are tight yet ennui threatens the money-spinning FLt20, with Eoin Morgan the latest to advocate changes to the competition.

The possibility of securing a window for England players to appear in domestic T20 has support in some quarters as a method of piquing public interest. Could Pietersen, unexpectedly available, confirm that he provides box office from Delhi to Derby by rallying the county game with an injection of flair and celebrity, reinvigorating the hardened fan and casual consumer alike?

The short answer was 'no'. Although it would have been an irony not lost on many had Pietersen fulfilled his brief as the saviour of a domestic game he has rarely professed an affinity for, an immediate spike in attendances was not expected by Surrey.

Despite the newspaper adverts warning "BOWLER'S BEWARE ... KP'S BACK", Surrey's chief executive, Richard Gould, believes that a focus on "scheduling and local heroes" would be more successful than attempting to balance on the shoulders of the game's giants.

"Ticket sales for Twenty20 are largely determined by the day on which games are played," Gould says. "A game on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday doesn't sell very well anyway, irrespective of who's playing."

While Surrey had expected up to 6,000 for the visit of Hampshire - a fixture that had been postponed in the wake of Tom Maynard's death - the numbers will swell to around 15,000 later in the week, for games against Kent and Middlesex. Surrey also host Sussex on Tuesday and Gould described the original decision to hand them three home games in four days as "pretty disastrous". Spectators are unlikely to want to pay to see cricket on three or four nights of the same week, even if Pietersen is around to switch-hit them senseless.

"There is a huge demand to watch Twenty20 and that is proven by the two games we've got on Thursday and Friday," Gould says. "Across those two days, within a 26-hour period, we will have 30,000 people coming to watch. What we want is for cricket to become habit forming. We want them to come on the Thursday or Friday of one week and then have the ability to come back a week or two weeks later."

A big crowd at The Oval for a T20 match can bring in around a third of the income an ODI generates, without the need to pay the ECB a hosting fee. A successful T20 tournament could therefore make a real difference to county finances as well as promote the game to a wider audience. Gould suggests that spreading the tournament out would allow games to be scheduled in more regular and attractive blocks and would help convert occasional watchers into regulars.

David Leatherdale, Worcestershire's chief executive, is also open to the idea of a more spaced-out fixture list, though others responsible for the game fear that such a move would dilute the tournament's impact. Leatherdale and Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes, meanwhile, are among those who think that star names can help promote the game.

"I think if England players were available it would help to attract new audiences," Leatherdale says. "It's something quite a few county chief executives have said for a while, finding a window that would allow them to take part. If you had a month's programme, similar to what we've got at the moment, and you could guarantee for the first two weeks of it that all your England players would be available, I think that would help no end."

It is not only England internationals who have been absent from the FLt20, with several counties losing out on overseas signings due to problems with the new visa system. Changes made by the UK Border Agency earlier this year meant that counties had to obtain a new licence - Tier Five rather than Tier Two, as was previously the case - in order to apply for international visas, leading to delays in the process that denied Worcestershire the services of Sohail Tanvir and Hampshire Shahid Afridi.

While that problem should not recur next season, Leatherdale says the crowded international calendar means bringing in marquee signings has become harder, despite the concentrated nature of the group stage, reduced to 10 games per county from 16 last year. Next year will bring the added problem of England hosting the Champions Trophy, scheduled for two weeks in June.

Cumbes, who saw gates increase on the occasional days that Andrew Flintoff was available for Lancashire, concedes that the drop in attendances this year has been disappointing and that the weather has only been part of the problem. "Maybe we're a little bit stuck with a competition we started with eight or nine years ago and people have got used to it," he says.

Franchise cricket has been touted as another method of spicing up a tournament that introduced the 20-over format to the world in 2003. But it is worth noting that for Worcestershire and Lancashire, the biggest attendances are for the visits of local rivals, Warwickshire and Yorkshire.

Among the varying and diverse theories, Gould, Leatherdale and Cumbes were united by the idea that English domestic cricket should listen to what it is that supporters want. Judging by the boos from the crowd as the rain closed in at the end of a desultory evening at The Oval, this is not it.

Cant wait for the T20 circus to be over so we can get back to proper cricket. Leaves a big gap in the middle of our season.

JG2704
on July 3, 2012, 20:43 GMT

@Trickstar on (July 03 2012, 18:35 PM GMT) We have Morgan still but apart from him , I'm not sure I have as much faith in others if we have a situation where we need to vastly increase the total when setting a total or chasing when we may need a further 150 at 7-8RPO. I still think it was really poor timing and I don't buy his "giving extra time to plan for 2015 ODWC" and more see it as hampering our preps for the T20WC

AdrianVanDenStael
on July 3, 2012, 19:01 GMT

Pietersen's failed again against Sussex tonight. There are certain Australian observers who are very fond of disparaging the English county game, but it's journeymen bowlers seem to be getting the better of Pietersen in his current form. If Pietersen had not retired, presumably he would be playing in the current ODI series against Australia in place of one out of Bell, Bopara, or Morgan, so you have to say that the real losers from KP's retirement to date have been Australia's bowlers ...

Trickstar
on July 3, 2012, 18:35 GMT

@JG2704 Completely agree, anyone that says he won't be missed are letting their own personal bias of the man get in the way of any real truth. Of course he will be missed he's a massive part of the reason why we are at he top of the tree in two of the formats and on the way up in the third. It's strange people are saying look at how well the 50 over side are doing, well it's only a few games ago he was a big part of Pakistan getting whitewashed in the UAE. England will feel the loss more when their in the sub continent in the WT20, he's got the greatest experience of any England player of the conditions and by some distance our best player. People think he won't be missed are deluding themselves and for the most come out wit the same lies that a few journos that also have their own agenda against him, namely he's not English and he's outspoken. The media as a whole especially the written press, don't like guys like that, Botham was a great example of it when the press turn on you.

JG2704
on July 3, 2012, 17:22 GMT

Re my scheduling ideas , reserve days etc - Thinking about it , this would work ok if we had at least a semblence of a summer. As it stands the weather messes up everything.

JG2704
on July 3, 2012, 16:06 GMT

Still feel Eng will find times when they badly need KP in ODI/T20 so I don't buy the "Who needs KP?" logic.I feel the only chance he'll want to come back is if Eng succeed without him in which case would Eng change a winning set up.I would say KP is that good that though morally wrong I'd squeeze him into ant OD/T20 side.Think ECB (If the schedule was the full issue with KP) could be more flexible with all players who play all 3 formats which could inc Trott, Bell and Cook but realistically Broad,Bres and Swann.Then again if KP was being rested for the WI series it seems a little feeble. Could both sides at least have had him playing til/inc the T20 WC even if they could not agree terms after that? Surely an extra few months wouldn't do that much to KP and if he goes after the T2OWC then we still have plenty of time to to plan for the ODWC.KP was saying that by leaving now it gives Eng more time to prepare for the next ODWC. I see it more a case of hampering our plans for the T20WC

EVH316
on July 3, 2012, 15:46 GMT

My solution, for what little it`s worth;

Keep the groups as they are - I don`t like the franchise idea (as a Northants supporter, we`d be swallowed up, and then it`s only a few years before we would be lost forever) - but have three teams at a venue on matchday so T1 v T2, T2 v T3, T1 v T3 on the same day - a longish day, but only as long as finals day, starts at 10.30pm, 2.30 and 6.30pm and play them on a Saturday or Sunday.

This way, the competition can be sandwiched better into the season without the impact on the championship fixtures and wouldn`t drag on forever like it seems to now.

Oh, and I`ve always liked the idea of three misses and you`re out as a batsman. Level the playing field a bit...

JG2704
on July 3, 2012, 15:46 GMT

@emmersonne on (July 03 2012, 12:35 PM GMT) Re your comment , was that because KP is ex Hants and didn't part on the best of terms or because this match was vs Hants or both? Actually Hants got my full respect in the T20 comp - think it may have been when they won it , even though they beat Somerset in the final - as KP suddenly made himself available for the big day and Hants rewarded the players who got them there by playing all of them instead

KDLarsen
on July 3, 2012, 14:28 GMT

@Tigg
Middlesex & Kent tried that last year, the result was carnage. Of course, it didn't help that the T20 was in Canterbury and the CC game starting the next day was at Lord's, nor did it help that the T20 was a late finish. But the result was 23 wickets falling on the first day of the CC game, on a pitch that might have offered a bit of seam and swing, but by no means was a minefield.

I agree with what someone else proposed, namely that saving September for the T20's. By then there's usually only a couple of onedayers left for the England team, allowing more of the centrally contracted players back to their home counties, thus raising their profile slightly.

Tigg
on July 3, 2012, 13:38 GMT

Simple scheduling can help.

Four day first class from Monday to Thursday. Then either a Pro 40 on Saturday or two T20s over the weekend.

Geoffa
on July 3, 2012, 21:50 GMT

Cant wait for the T20 circus to be over so we can get back to proper cricket. Leaves a big gap in the middle of our season.

JG2704
on July 3, 2012, 20:43 GMT

@Trickstar on (July 03 2012, 18:35 PM GMT) We have Morgan still but apart from him , I'm not sure I have as much faith in others if we have a situation where we need to vastly increase the total when setting a total or chasing when we may need a further 150 at 7-8RPO. I still think it was really poor timing and I don't buy his "giving extra time to plan for 2015 ODWC" and more see it as hampering our preps for the T20WC

AdrianVanDenStael
on July 3, 2012, 19:01 GMT

Pietersen's failed again against Sussex tonight. There are certain Australian observers who are very fond of disparaging the English county game, but it's journeymen bowlers seem to be getting the better of Pietersen in his current form. If Pietersen had not retired, presumably he would be playing in the current ODI series against Australia in place of one out of Bell, Bopara, or Morgan, so you have to say that the real losers from KP's retirement to date have been Australia's bowlers ...

Trickstar
on July 3, 2012, 18:35 GMT

@JG2704 Completely agree, anyone that says he won't be missed are letting their own personal bias of the man get in the way of any real truth. Of course he will be missed he's a massive part of the reason why we are at he top of the tree in two of the formats and on the way up in the third. It's strange people are saying look at how well the 50 over side are doing, well it's only a few games ago he was a big part of Pakistan getting whitewashed in the UAE. England will feel the loss more when their in the sub continent in the WT20, he's got the greatest experience of any England player of the conditions and by some distance our best player. People think he won't be missed are deluding themselves and for the most come out wit the same lies that a few journos that also have their own agenda against him, namely he's not English and he's outspoken. The media as a whole especially the written press, don't like guys like that, Botham was a great example of it when the press turn on you.

JG2704
on July 3, 2012, 17:22 GMT

Re my scheduling ideas , reserve days etc - Thinking about it , this would work ok if we had at least a semblence of a summer. As it stands the weather messes up everything.

JG2704
on July 3, 2012, 16:06 GMT

Still feel Eng will find times when they badly need KP in ODI/T20 so I don't buy the "Who needs KP?" logic.I feel the only chance he'll want to come back is if Eng succeed without him in which case would Eng change a winning set up.I would say KP is that good that though morally wrong I'd squeeze him into ant OD/T20 side.Think ECB (If the schedule was the full issue with KP) could be more flexible with all players who play all 3 formats which could inc Trott, Bell and Cook but realistically Broad,Bres and Swann.Then again if KP was being rested for the WI series it seems a little feeble. Could both sides at least have had him playing til/inc the T20 WC even if they could not agree terms after that? Surely an extra few months wouldn't do that much to KP and if he goes after the T2OWC then we still have plenty of time to to plan for the ODWC.KP was saying that by leaving now it gives Eng more time to prepare for the next ODWC. I see it more a case of hampering our plans for the T20WC

EVH316
on July 3, 2012, 15:46 GMT

My solution, for what little it`s worth;

Keep the groups as they are - I don`t like the franchise idea (as a Northants supporter, we`d be swallowed up, and then it`s only a few years before we would be lost forever) - but have three teams at a venue on matchday so T1 v T2, T2 v T3, T1 v T3 on the same day - a longish day, but only as long as finals day, starts at 10.30pm, 2.30 and 6.30pm and play them on a Saturday or Sunday.

This way, the competition can be sandwiched better into the season without the impact on the championship fixtures and wouldn`t drag on forever like it seems to now.

Oh, and I`ve always liked the idea of three misses and you`re out as a batsman. Level the playing field a bit...

JG2704
on July 3, 2012, 15:46 GMT

@emmersonne on (July 03 2012, 12:35 PM GMT) Re your comment , was that because KP is ex Hants and didn't part on the best of terms or because this match was vs Hants or both? Actually Hants got my full respect in the T20 comp - think it may have been when they won it , even though they beat Somerset in the final - as KP suddenly made himself available for the big day and Hants rewarded the players who got them there by playing all of them instead

KDLarsen
on July 3, 2012, 14:28 GMT

@Tigg
Middlesex & Kent tried that last year, the result was carnage. Of course, it didn't help that the T20 was in Canterbury and the CC game starting the next day was at Lord's, nor did it help that the T20 was a late finish. But the result was 23 wickets falling on the first day of the CC game, on a pitch that might have offered a bit of seam and swing, but by no means was a minefield.

I agree with what someone else proposed, namely that saving September for the T20's. By then there's usually only a couple of onedayers left for the England team, allowing more of the centrally contracted players back to their home counties, thus raising their profile slightly.

Tigg
on July 3, 2012, 13:38 GMT

Simple scheduling can help.

Four day first class from Monday to Thursday. Then either a Pro 40 on Saturday or two T20s over the weekend.

Harvey
on July 3, 2012, 13:25 GMT

Well I suppose Pietersen's duck might have "deepened the T20 gloom" if you were a Surrey fan. I doubt Hampshire players and supporters would share that sentiment though.

emmersonne
on July 3, 2012, 12:35 GMT

Actually, as a Hampshire fan, KP's duck made my day. Anyone else?

YorkshirePudding
on July 3, 2012, 11:39 GMT

@journeyinmusic, in regards to the franchise system, how will that benefit counties that dont have grounds, all you will do is see more and more counties becoming financially un-viable. You also wont get businessmen involved in these franchises if you demand 50-60% of the take from each match for those counties that arnt involved, and this is the crux of the matter.

sgh142
on July 3, 2012, 11:29 GMT

Hopefully a pre curser to being dropped from the Test team as well. Disruptive individuals break, not make teams....he hasn't been missed, nor will he be. Great management from Flower and the ECB.

yorkshirematt
on July 3, 2012, 10:10 GMT

Well I for one am enjoying this year's T20. Just a glance at the north group table and our last five results willtell you why!

pom_don
on July 3, 2012, 9:52 GMT

@RandyOZ 'Pieterson has never been any good at batting'......tell me what's it like on planet Randy?

journeyinmusic
on July 3, 2012, 9:39 GMT

Surely people need clearer signals as to the decision to attend T20: where, when, why, who and how much, for starters. Where: a limited number of major grounds with good transport links. When : a fixed period probably in August/Sept after the showcase Test Matches are finished for the year; 3 weeks maximum to give people the impression of a tournament (the IPL is great but too long); maximum 6 round robin matches; more than one match should take place on the same day to make the calendar shorter with a concentration of matches Thursday-Sunday. Why: because it's fun. How much: cheap (10 pounds maximum please!! and a possible T20 season ticket for those wishing to take time off). Who: test players should be available and there should be fewer teams with a franchise system in place.

Taz786
on July 3, 2012, 9:37 GMT

They should charge no more than £15-£20 for a domestic T20 game. They should schedule to play on Thursday, Fridays and Saturday and Sunday's with no team being allow to have two home games in those 4 Days, and it should alternate like what they do in the Champions league, when they play on Tuesday's and Wednesday's. If it's a bank holiday then they should be allowed to host a game on that day.

YorkshirePudding
on July 3, 2012, 8:49 GMT

@jackiethepen, Flower wasnt trying to bully him into staying in the ODI side, infact KP was due to get a rest in the WI's ODI series but he wanted out of ODI's, and sadly his Central contract (the one he signed in October) states that he must be available for both ODI's and T20i's. So by retiring from ODI's he retired from T20i's as well. So the question is why should KP be different to everyone else thats signed a Contract for ODI's and T20i's? Techncally trott and Cook are available for T20i duty but they are not selected.

JG2704
on July 3, 2012, 8:25 GMT

I do agree with JOTA - I think the scheduling could have had a reserve day implimented. It seems crazy that Somerset (and I know all teams are in the same boat) lost 2 T20 games to the weather and this week for example I think they have no games between Sunday and Friday I believe and then on other weeks they have to play back to back games which just seems really poor scheduling

Yevghenny
on July 3, 2012, 8:21 GMT

1. Get more England players in the tournament. 2. Go back to when you started the competition, you charged £10 a ticket

jackiethepen
on July 3, 2012, 7:47 GMT

You underestimate KP, landl47. If he is man enough to walk out on Flower who was trying to bully him into staying in the ODI side, he is is man enough to take a duck in County cricket t20 and get on with it. Everyone seems to think cricketers are wimps. Same sort of stuff about Bell. KP can take comfort that Bell went back to Warwickshire to put his game right in the worst of the spring season when the ball was zipping about and in the gloom and rain at Edgbaston got a century when his County needed him - they were 14-4. But Bell had got a low score in the game before. He squared his shoulders and got on with it. It is a disgrace that Flower is keeping KP out of the World t20 to represent England. He should have managed him better. A coach should be that. Flower had just dropped Bell from ODIs. He had to change his mind quickly. Let him change his mind about KP.

sgh142
on July 3, 2012, 7:37 GMT

Come on give Pietersen a break....it must be difficult when you don't know your 'teammates' names.....or the oppositions for that matter, after all we only saw him 3 times in 4 years........ he had to be introduced to the playing staff at pre season press days!!!!. All quiet on the tw(e)at (sic) front today, funny that!!!

on July 3, 2012, 7:26 GMT

Maybe Surrey would get better attendances if they weren't charging £25 for a ticket? Absolutely outgrageous and completely different to when it started.

sgh142
on July 3, 2012, 7:24 GMT

Best, most destructive player in the world.............unless Daws or ANY leftie spinner bowls at him!!!!!. England did the right thing by dropping him....K who??

vrn59
on July 3, 2012, 6:08 GMT

@RandyOz: that is a ridiculous comment. He is a better batsman than most in the Aussie team...

bobmartin
on July 3, 2012, 5:36 GMT

@RandyOZ...."He only got a gig for England due to their extremely thin talent pools".
Pot, kettle and black are words that immediately spring to mind..

Lakpj
on July 3, 2012, 5:30 GMT

@RandyOZ You may be right but a test average of 50 ODI avg of 42 and a T20 Avg of 38 at a very high strike rate would be handy for any team, especially for Aus who are struggling to find a proper middle order. deep down in their mind SA must be kicking themselves that they missed out a chance by missing out on Peterson. imagine him in SA team alongside Kallis, AB and Amla, that would be some batting lineup.

YorkshirePudding
on July 3, 2012, 4:57 GMT

I think the the drop in gates this summer is more down to the weather, the Euro Championships and ticket prices, in this climate £20-25/adult is too much to watch a rain affected game, drop the price to £10-15 and you might get more people in. I know a group of guys (6-7) from work that were going to go to the oval, at 17:00 they looked out the office window and decided to wait for a dry day.

frozendilemma
on July 3, 2012, 4:16 GMT

@RandyOz: Well thats just cynicism my friend, even the best in the world can sometimes get out for ducks both silver and golden and in the very next innings they can scorch up something extraordinary...Regarding his time in South Africa it was more than him not being able to get a chance there...To me he`s at par with AB Devilliars in terms of balancing his game in all forms of Cricket...

SamRoy
on July 3, 2012, 4:14 GMT

Pietersen, when on song, is one of the most destructive batsman in the world in all forms of the game. Not just T20s. He is England's first true great cricketer since Botham.

landl47
on July 3, 2012, 0:49 GMT

I wonder what went through KP's mind as he got out in a county T20 for a duck in front of a sparse scattering of spectators after watching his former England teammates beating Australia before a sold-out Oval crowd? I don't wish KP any ill, but possibly it crossed his mind that he'd just taken one of the stupidest decisions of his life.

Robster1
on July 3, 2012, 0:01 GMT

Is it really that hard to simply schedule T20 on regular, fixed days of the week ?

xylo
on July 3, 2012, 0:00 GMT

KP out to a left arm spinner. That was surprising!

Juiceoftheapple
on July 2, 2012, 23:57 GMT

6 runs off total for a caught. No stumpings but players cant hit the ball beyond a certain mark. Nominate 6 batsman only who come back in when they are out until 10 are out, no one wants to see a No.10 walk out to bat with a no.9 when 15 are needed off the last over. No limit on bouncers. WHAT DOES IT MATTER??!!! Bowlers trying out different things will make the game even more exciting. Take the pressure off the batsman and reward them for inventive agressive play. People take their kids to see explosive imaginative cricket that goes to the wire. Any England coach should have the skill set to pick a team that can play T20 in the traditional format - and with central contracts this isnt really an issue. We invented T20 so we wouldnt have to ruin test cricket to get in the masses didn't we!? We can do what we want with it surely? Why be constrained by things that we CAN change when there are so many things that we are restricted by and cant change.

RandyOZ
on July 2, 2012, 23:40 GMT

Pietersen has never been great at batting, hence not being able to make the South African side. He only got a gig for England due to their extremely thin talent pools.

Juiceoftheapple
on July 2, 2012, 23:39 GMT

The thing is, its not serious cricket, its fun, people go for a laugh and to see the ball spanked about, why be constrained by delusions of it being serious cricket, its a spectator event. I prefer test cricket myself, but T20 is what it is. There are loads of factors listed above which are rigid - got to play local rivals, got to keep the county structure, need England players etc. etc. The current arrangment isnt too far off a good one, but instead of looking athe same old problems, look at the things that CAN be changed that won't negatively affect attendences but which might raise them. 8 run 6, switching rain days, a draft/auction of foreign stars, auction England T20 players, limited boundaries, a form of batting powerplay throughout, knock 10 runs off the score for a direct bowled, Buy 2,3,4,5 match passes and use them when you want by booking online. TEAR UP THE RULE BOOK, its not proper cricket anyway, its just a night out! It doesnt HAVE to replicate international T20 format.

TheHalftracker
on July 2, 2012, 23:28 GMT

I also love the headline. Damn, if only Pietersen had managed a good score, we could have had a tournament worth following! It's not like there were 21 other professionals playing the game to the best of their abilities out there tonight or anything.

TheHalftracker
on July 2, 2012, 23:24 GMT

Oh! I was under the misapprehension that this was actually going to be a match report for Surrey-Hampshire. It is a shame there could only be one ball bowled in the match, from what I can gather without looking at the scorecard.

Juiceoftheapple
on July 2, 2012, 23:23 GMT

Surely with so many constraining factors we should look at things that aren't!!! Surely there could be some facility for switching games to 'dry' days if very poor weather was predicted. Tickets would be bought in this knowledge - if needed switched at say 24 hours notice, the tickets can be used for switched days or another match by booking online. And what is it with Mon/Tues/Wed games? Surely all games should be Thurs/Fri/Sat or Sunday afternoon? 2 games per week per team. As for the foreign stars, as its all candy floss cricket anyway, what about a 'draft' or bidding auction the month before the tournament. I know people claim to buy tickets because so and so was due to play,but it would generate excitement up to the auction and tournament. What happened this year was a farce with so many pulling out or visa problems. Then the rule book could be thrown out and 8 runs given for clearing the ropes and a standard boundary distance implemented - according the shortest county ground.

No featured comments at the moment.

Juiceoftheapple
on July 2, 2012, 23:23 GMT

Surely with so many constraining factors we should look at things that aren't!!! Surely there could be some facility for switching games to 'dry' days if very poor weather was predicted. Tickets would be bought in this knowledge - if needed switched at say 24 hours notice, the tickets can be used for switched days or another match by booking online. And what is it with Mon/Tues/Wed games? Surely all games should be Thurs/Fri/Sat or Sunday afternoon? 2 games per week per team. As for the foreign stars, as its all candy floss cricket anyway, what about a 'draft' or bidding auction the month before the tournament. I know people claim to buy tickets because so and so was due to play,but it would generate excitement up to the auction and tournament. What happened this year was a farce with so many pulling out or visa problems. Then the rule book could be thrown out and 8 runs given for clearing the ropes and a standard boundary distance implemented - according the shortest county ground.

TheHalftracker
on July 2, 2012, 23:24 GMT

Oh! I was under the misapprehension that this was actually going to be a match report for Surrey-Hampshire. It is a shame there could only be one ball bowled in the match, from what I can gather without looking at the scorecard.

TheHalftracker
on July 2, 2012, 23:28 GMT

I also love the headline. Damn, if only Pietersen had managed a good score, we could have had a tournament worth following! It's not like there were 21 other professionals playing the game to the best of their abilities out there tonight or anything.

Juiceoftheapple
on July 2, 2012, 23:39 GMT

The thing is, its not serious cricket, its fun, people go for a laugh and to see the ball spanked about, why be constrained by delusions of it being serious cricket, its a spectator event. I prefer test cricket myself, but T20 is what it is. There are loads of factors listed above which are rigid - got to play local rivals, got to keep the county structure, need England players etc. etc. The current arrangment isnt too far off a good one, but instead of looking athe same old problems, look at the things that CAN be changed that won't negatively affect attendences but which might raise them. 8 run 6, switching rain days, a draft/auction of foreign stars, auction England T20 players, limited boundaries, a form of batting powerplay throughout, knock 10 runs off the score for a direct bowled, Buy 2,3,4,5 match passes and use them when you want by booking online. TEAR UP THE RULE BOOK, its not proper cricket anyway, its just a night out! It doesnt HAVE to replicate international T20 format.

RandyOZ
on July 2, 2012, 23:40 GMT

Pietersen has never been great at batting, hence not being able to make the South African side. He only got a gig for England due to their extremely thin talent pools.

Juiceoftheapple
on July 2, 2012, 23:57 GMT

6 runs off total for a caught. No stumpings but players cant hit the ball beyond a certain mark. Nominate 6 batsman only who come back in when they are out until 10 are out, no one wants to see a No.10 walk out to bat with a no.9 when 15 are needed off the last over. No limit on bouncers. WHAT DOES IT MATTER??!!! Bowlers trying out different things will make the game even more exciting. Take the pressure off the batsman and reward them for inventive agressive play. People take their kids to see explosive imaginative cricket that goes to the wire. Any England coach should have the skill set to pick a team that can play T20 in the traditional format - and with central contracts this isnt really an issue. We invented T20 so we wouldnt have to ruin test cricket to get in the masses didn't we!? We can do what we want with it surely? Why be constrained by things that we CAN change when there are so many things that we are restricted by and cant change.

xylo
on July 3, 2012, 0:00 GMT

KP out to a left arm spinner. That was surprising!

Robster1
on July 3, 2012, 0:01 GMT

Is it really that hard to simply schedule T20 on regular, fixed days of the week ?

landl47
on July 3, 2012, 0:49 GMT

I wonder what went through KP's mind as he got out in a county T20 for a duck in front of a sparse scattering of spectators after watching his former England teammates beating Australia before a sold-out Oval crowd? I don't wish KP any ill, but possibly it crossed his mind that he'd just taken one of the stupidest decisions of his life.

SamRoy
on July 3, 2012, 4:14 GMT

Pietersen, when on song, is one of the most destructive batsman in the world in all forms of the game. Not just T20s. He is England's first true great cricketer since Botham.